Page 72 of Baby It's Cold Outside

The word came out a heavy groan. “Evie—”

“Listen,” she said as she met his gaze, as if taking her measure of the man. “I’ll make a deal with you.” She sounded remarkably matter-of-fact. “If I can get your clothes off, using nothing but the limited kitchen utensils in this hotel room, you’ll spend the night making love to me.”

Stunned, Wes couldn’t move as he looked into the dark chocolate eyes that were making promises he shouldn’t want her to keep.

And the idea was absurd.

“That’s not possible,” he said, amazed he was able to sound logical.

She looked up at him, wide-eyed. And if he’d been smart, he would have feared the overly innocent expression that looked so out of place on Evie Lee. Her scent, her beautiful, defiant face, and the gentle curves of her body called to him.

A muscle in his jaw ticked, and he clenched his teeth.

He needed her to step back. He needed her to remove herself from his presence.

Because with Evie’s arrival back in his life, he was rapidly realizing how bland his world was. And if he started to dwell on just how tedious his life had become, who knew what he would do?

“I’ll make you a promise,” she said. “If I’m unsuccessful at getting you naked with the kitchen utensils alone…”

He ignored the heated blood coursing through his veins at the thought.

She lifted a brow and went on. “I’ll let you keep my Hello Kitty underwear as a reminder of what you missed.”

Wes should say no. But, damn it, he’d dreamed of her enough that, when she failed, he wanted something to remember this day by.

So instead, he said, “I need to work tomorrow. Which means when you lose, you also have to leave me alone and let me get some sleep.”

“Deal,” she said.

Her quick agreement should have been the second sign that he was in trouble. But there was no way in hell a woman could get his clothes off with ice tongs.

And a big part of him was disappointed.

Evie stepped unbearably closer, and Wes steeled himself against the onslaught of sensual images. Her upper body covered by the still-damp T-shirt and a lacy bra that did a terrible job of shielding the tips of her breasts, Evie dropped the towel from around her waist. Hello Kitty stared at him expectantly from the patch between her thighs. Wes clenched his teeth and forced his gaze back to hers.

Her sultry expression was not reassuring.

Using her tongs, she clasped the loop of leather threaded through his belt buckle and tugged. When the strap wouldn’t give, her brow furrowed.

A look that really shouldn’t have been so endearing.

After several jerks without success, her furrow grew deeper, and Wes couldn’t help himself. He smiled. “You can give up now if you want. Save face and keep me from gaining custody of Hello Kitty when you lose.”

But the teasing tone was his third—and fatal—mistake.

She shot him a libido-piercing look and adjusted her grip on the tongs. With a tug, she slipped the looped leather from the buckle. Another hard pull at just the right angle, and the catch slid from the hole in the belt, the strap going slack.

Evie’s eyes glowed as she yanked the leather free from his pants and the belt fell to the floor with a plop.

Wes concentrated on not coming unglued.

“Beginner’s luck,” he said.

“Yes,” she said, voice clearly delighted. “I guess the fates have finally decided to smile on me.”

God help him.

“I should have left you in that snowbank,” he said darkly.

---